We recently heard that some of our patrons believe we no longer offer the Interlibrary Loan service, ever since we became part of AspenCat in April 2010. You’ll be glad to know that this is not true.

In fact, we provide both these services to our patrons, thus greatly expanding the offerings available to you. Here’s how they work:

• AspenCat allows us to merge our catalog electronically with multiple catalogs in Colorado. There are almost 500,000 books, DVDs, CDs and other items in the catalog from 30 different libraries in the state. Through AspenCat, you can borrow materials from any of these libraries — and you can place a hold on an item directly from the online catalog (either at home or at a library catalog kiosk) or by stopping by the front desk. All you need is an active library barcode number and a four-digit PIN. PINs can be set or re-set (for forgetful folks) at the library or over the phone. Items ordered from other libraries are shipped on a daily basis through a free courier service that delivers Monday through Friday. You can set up your library account to get either an email or a phone call when the item you requested is ready for you.

• We also are part of SWIFT, which stands for the Statewide Interlibrary Fast Track and is colloquially known as the Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service. It’s a web-based electronic interlibrary loan requesting and tracking system that the Colorado State Library provides free of charge to all public, academic, school and special libraries in the state. We have always offered this service to our patrons, and will continue to do so. However, if an item is available through AspenCat, it will not be ordered through SWIFT. To participate, you must be a “general” cardholder (i.e., not “new”) and have an account in good standing (no lost or overdue items). You can request two ILL items at a time by filling out a form at the library desk. Library staff will do a search of larger Colorado libraries to find out if an item is available and will give you a phone call with the result.

Tech Tuesdays

One of our most popular ongoing programs is Tech Tuesdays with Tessa, sessions to help you develop and hone your computer skills. Thanks to her free, informal, one-on-one advice, you can learn more about your PC, the Internet and more. The next sessions are Aug. 2 from 3-5 p.m. and Aug. 9 from 10 a.m. to noon.

Christian fiction

“Learning” by Karen Kingsbury is book two in the Baily Flanigan series featuring members of the popular Baxter family.

Large print mysteries and thrillers

“The Measby Murder Enquiry” by Ann Purser is the start of a new series featuring Ivy Beasley. “Spider Web” by Earlene Fowler is part of the series featuring Benni Harper and the ladies in her quilting group. “A Crafty Killing” by Lorraine Bartlett is a murder mystery set in an Artisans Alley. “Those in Peril” by Wilbur Smith is a thriller about the kidnapping by pirates of an oil man’s daughter. “Fallen” by Karin Slaughter is a thriller about an officer’s search for her missing mother after a hostage situation.

Large print western and romance

“Glory Riders” is a collection of six of Louis L’Amour’s most popular Western stories. “Outlaw’s Promise” provides Western fans with two books, “Tenkiller Flats” by Hannah Bradford and “Outlaw’s Promise” by Ray Hogan. “Friendship Bread” by Darien Gee follows two sisters and a whole town brought together by Amish Friendship Bread. “The Provence Cure for the Brokenhearted” by Bridget Asher is a romance set in Provence, France. “Picking Up The Pieces” by Mary Sheepshanks is a romance about a woman who restarts her life in her 50s. “Midnight Cove” by Sherryl Woods is a romance in the Chesapeake Shores series. “Creed’s Honor” by Linda Lael Miller is a romance in the Creed Cowboys series.

Other mysteries and thrillers

“Smokin’ Seventeen” by Janet Evanovich is the latest in the mystery series featuring New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum. “The Devil Colony” by James Rollins is a Sigma Force novel that asks whether the founding of the U.S. was based on a fundamental lie. “House Divided” by Mike Lawson is a political thriller about wiretapping in Washington, D.C. “Trespasser” by Paul Doiron is the second in a series featuring Maine game warden Mike Bowditch. “Watch Me Die” by Erica Spindler is a psychological drama set in New Orleans. “Breaking Silence” by Linda Castillo is the next in the series featuring Police Chief Kate Burkholder trying to solve a murder in Amish country. “Hypnotist” by Lars Kepler is the international sensation written under a pseudonym by a husband-wife Swedish author team that is set to appear in 33 countries. “The Explorer’s Code” by CNN journalist Kitty Pilgrim revolves around the quest for a land deed valuable enough to kill for.

Books on MP3

“State of Wonder” by Ann Patchett is set in the Amazon jungle where a research scientist searches for her former mentor. “The Kingdom” by Clive Cussler and Grant Blackwood is the third adventure in the Fargo adventure series. “The Devil Colony” by James Rollins is a Sigma Force novel that asks whether the founding of the U.S. was based on a fundamental lie.

New novels

“The American Heiress” by Daisy Goodwin follows the life of a rich woman who finds a title but not happiness in Europe. “The Dog Who Came in from the Cold” by Alexander McCall Smith is a new installment in the Corduroy Mansions series featuring the Pimlico terrier Freddie de la Hay.

Thanks to our donors

For the donation of an audio book, we thank Clareve Enmon.

Quotable quote

”We pay so much attention to the bottom line, the scoreboard, our score, that we miss out on the ‘game’ itself. In golf, as in life, it’s not so much the scoreboard but rather enjoying the journey that really counts.” — Leonard Finkel, general manager of a golf course in San Diego.

Website

For more information on library books, services and programs, and to reserve books from the comfort of your home, visit our website at http://pagosa.colibraries.org/.